Phthalides: Distribution in Nature, Chemical Reactivity, Synthesis, and Biological Activity.

Phthalides are a relatively small group of natural compounds confined to several plant families and some genera of fungi and liverworts. They are divided into two structural groups, the monomeric and dimeric phthalides, and known mainly as bioactive constituents of different plant species used traditionally for medicinal purposes in Asia, Europe, and North America.The first reports on the chemistry of phthalides appeared at the end of the nineteenth century, in which they were identified as the odor constituents of the essential oil of celery (Apium graveolens) by Ciamician and Silber (1897). In the first half of the last century, phthalides were isolated from Cnidium officinale and Ligusticum acutilobum, species widely used in Asian traditional medicine, and from Levisticum officinale, a species used as food and condiment. Throughout the second part of the twentieth century, phthalides have been characterized from several plant families, namely Asteraceae, Leguminosae, Orchidaceae and Rutaceae, among others, but mainly from the Umbelliferae (syn Apiaceae) family, and the major contributors have been the following species used in traditional medicine: Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chinese name: Chuanxiong), Angelica sinensis (Chinese name: Danggui), Cnidium officinale (Japanese name: Senkyu), Angelica acutiloba (Japanese name: Toki), and Ligusticum porteri (Hispanic name: Oshá). Phthalides are also constituents of several genera of fungi, such as Penicillium, Alternaria and Pestalotiopsis, and some liverworts.Different chromatographic, spectrometric, and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques have been used for the isolation and structural characterization of phthalides in extracts, and for assessing the quality of plant material containing this type of compound. Isotopic labeling has established the biosynthesis of phthalides via linkage of acetate units forming polyketide intermediates.Chemical transformations of monomeric phthalides have included oxidation, reduction, addition, elimination, and cycloaddition reactions, and treatments with Lewis acids of (Z)-ligustilide have afforded linear dimers. Some intramolecular condensations and differentiated cyclizations of the dimeric phthalides have been carried out, providing evidences for the particular chemical reactivity of these compounds.Several structural modifications of phthalides have been carried out subjecting them to microbial transformations by different species of bacteria, fungi and algae, and these included resolutions of racemic mixtures and oxidations, among others.The [π4s + π2s] and [π2s + π2s] cycloadditions of (Z)-ligustilide for the synthesis of dimeric phthalides have been reported, and different approaches involving cyclizations, Alder-Rickert reactions, Sharpless asymmetric hydroxylations, or Grignard additions have been used for the synthesis of monomeric phthalides. The use of phthalides as building blocks for divergent oriented synthesis has been proven.Many of the naturally occurring phthalides display different biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory effects, among many others, with a considerable recent research on the topic. In the case of compounds isolated from the Apiaceae, the bioactivities correlate with the traditional medicinal uses of the natural sources. Some monomeric phthalides have shown their ability to attenuate certain neurological diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.The present contribution covers the distribution of phthalides in nature and the findings in the structural diversity, chemical reactivity, biotransformations, syntheses, and bioactivity of natural and semisynthetic phthalides.

Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Centella asiatica (L) Urb.

In the present study, the phenolic (Folin-Dennis) and flavonoid (colorimetric assay) constituents, antioxidant [2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) assay] and cytotoxic activities of an aqueous extract (AE) of Centella asiatica leaves were investigated. The aqueous extract (50 g/L) was obtained by infusion followed by cold maceration for 24 h. The levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds were 2.86 g/100 g and 0.361 g/100 g, respectively. The AE showed elevated DPPH scavenging activity, with an IC(50) value of 31.25 microg/mL. The AE had a promising activity against mouse melanoma (B(16)F(1)), human breast cancer (MDA MB-231) and rat glioma (C(6)) cell lines, with IC(50) values of 698.0, 648.0 and 1000.0 microg/mL, respectively. A positive correlation was established between the level of flavonoids, antioxidant and antitumor activities.

Diuretic and hipotensive activity of aqueous extract of parsley seeds (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm) in rats / Atividade diurética e hipotensora do extrato aquoso da semente de salsa (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm) em ratos

PURPOSE: the vegetal specie, Petroselinum sativum Hoff., known as parsley, is widely used in the Brazilian folk medicine as diuretic. The objective of this study is to verify if Brazilian use of parsley aqueous extract has similar effects with investigations that show a diuretic effect of P. sativum in rats. METHODS: 19 rats were anesthetized and we cannulated the trachea, left carotid artery (for arterial pressure measurement) and urinary bladder (to collect urine). After 40 minutes of adaptive surgery conditions, anesthetized rats were administrated as related with their group: control (CON), oral administration with 1.0 mL of filtered water, and treated group (AE), oral administration with aqueous extract of seeds of parsley 20 percent (AE). Urine was collected three times (30 minutes each) and then this material was used for sodium and potassium determinations, to evaluate the amount excreted of these ions. Blood pressure was measured by mercury manometer for 9 times. All data were statistically evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: in the analyzed parameters, CON group did not show any differences; but AE group showed an increased of urinary flow and sodium and potassium amount excreted, and also decreased arterial pressure. All the parameters presented these modifications after 30 minutes of administration of AE (p<0.05). These results show that the treatment with the AE results in natriuretic and hypotensive effects in anesthetized Wistar rats, confirming the use of Brazilian population of this herb as diuretic.

A espécie vegetal, Petroselinum sativum Hoff, conhecida como salsa, é amplamente utilizada na medicina popular brasileira como diurético. O objetivo desse estudo é verificar se o uso brasileiro do extrato aquoso da salsa tem efeitos semelhantes com investigações que mostram o efeito diurético da P. sativum em ratos. MÉTODOS: 19 Ratos foram anestesiados e canulamos a traquéia, artéria carótida esquerda (para a medição da pressão arterial) e bexiga urinária (para coletar urina). Depois de 40 minutos para adaptação das condições cirúrgicas, ratos anestesiados foram administrados de acordo com seus grupos: controle (CON), administração oral com 1.0 mL de água filtrada, e grupo tratado (AE), administração oral com extrato aquoso de sementes de salsa 20 por cento (AE). Urina foi coletada três vezes (de 30 em 30 minutos) e então esse material foi utilizado para determinações de sódio e potássio, para avaliar a quantidade excretada desses íons. Pressão arterial foi medida pelo manômetro de mercúrio por 9 vezes. Todos os dados foram estatisticamente avaliados. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÃO: nos parâmetros anestesiados, o grupo CON não mostrou nenhuma diferença; mas o grupo AE mostrou um aumento do fluxo urinário e da quantidade excretada de sódio e potássio, e também uma diminuição da pressão arterial. Todos os parâmetros apresentaram essas modificações após 30 minutos de administração do AE (p<0,05). Esses resultados mostram que o tratamento com o AE leva a efeitos natriurético e hipotensor em ratos Wistar anestesiados, confirmando o uso da população brasileira dessa erva como diurético.

Coumarins from the aerial parts of Prangos uloptera (Apiaceae) / Cumarinas das partes aéreas de Prangos uloptera (Apiaceae)

Phytochemical studies on the aerial parts of Prangos uloptera, an endemic Iranian species of the genus Prangos, yielded five coumarins, xanthotoxin (1), prangenin (2), scopoletin (3), deltoin (4) and prangolarin (5). The structures of these coumarins were elucidated by spectroscopic means, and the antioxidant potential of 1-5 was evaluated by the DPPH assay. The chemotaxonomic significance of 1-5 is also discussed.

Os estudos fitoquímicos das partes aéreas de Prangos uloptera, uma espécie do gênero Prangos endêmica do Irã, forneceram cinco cumarinas, xantotoxina (1), prangenina (2), escopoletina (3), deltoína (4) e prangolarina (5). As estruturas destas cumarinas foram elucidas através de métodos espectroscópicos e o potencial antioxidante de 1-5 foi avaliado pelo ensaio de DPPH. O significado quimiotaxonômico de 1-5 também é discutido.